Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach in any way, shape or form.
Behind the Smiles
Chapter 1
"It's getting colder," A voice remarked within the shadows of Rukongai's slums.
"I know, please bear with me," Another voice replied, this time a more feminine, child-like one. A shuffling sound was heard before it stopped abruptly.
"No." A male voice, different from the first, intoned firmly and with a reluctant sigh from the feminine voice, a tiny shadow slipped away from the narrow, dirty alley. "We'll be out of here soon, I can feel it. What do you say, sister?"
The tiny shadow stopped in her tracks. "Um… are you sure it's a good idea? I mean anythi –"
"Come on!" The first voice said, its soft quality taking on a harsh edge. "You can't back out now! We've come all this way and for you to just abandon us like that?!"
"No, no, I didn't mean it like that! I meant that there are a lot of things that could go wrong, brother, you never know!" The girl's panicked breaths were quietly shushed by another taller shadow leaning over her.
"I know what can happen, sis. We're family, remember? If something goes wrong, we all die."
The girl sighed again and turned away from the other two. She took hasty steps until the end of the alley and leaned against one wall, scanning the dirty streets for passer-by's.
It was already past sunset, and the only streetlight in the district flickered a few feet away, illuminating the run-down, wooden houses in an on and off golden glow. Almost everyone in the area was home for the meagre dinner they could manage to gather in the nearby woods or through stealing, and those that couldn't get lucky were just trying to avoid the rare Shinigami patrols. Because it was one of the worst and most violent districts in Rukongai, the lowest of the low-ranked Shinigami were sent to patrol the area. However, they either didn't bother or just caused even more trouble in the already violent streets.
Luckily for her, the Shinigami had evidently chosen to skip on tonight's duty and with a hushed "I'll be back as soon as I can, please stay alive." she leaped out of the alley, mingling with the long shadows the rickety houses threw over the streets.
After her, two more shadows slipped out and fled in the opposite direction, the way only the experienced could. One of them let out a loud laugh as they passed by yet another street brawl and blood splattered their tattered kimonos. "Soul Society will never know what hit it!"
"This is unacceptable! Something must be done!" Yamamoto's gruff voice rang out across the room, silencing the twelve captains and bringing them to attention. "Unohana-taicho, please repeat the report you gave me earlier."
"Hai, taicho," Said a woman with a long, backwards braid. "It seems that Aizen is really dead. We did conclude that it was a fake body but my latest autopsies have proven us wrong. He is completely dead. We do not know who killed him, but it seems that he has simply died of blood loss."
"But that is not possible! How can a captain die of blood loss?!" Kepachi grumbled. "He was incompetent, right from the start."
"He must be hiding something," Soi Fon said. "As much as I despise this, I agree with Captain Kenpachi."
"What do you mean by that?!" Kenpachi growled at the petite woman.
"Silence!" Yamamoto's roar effectively silenced them both. "I assure you, he is dead. And this is classified information. Do not repeat this to anyone except you Lieutenants and even then, reveal it to them only when necessary. We cannot allow the Gotei 13 to fall apart. Ichimaru and Tousen have betrayed us and are planning something. I will not stand for any petty bickering, understand? Be on your guards, for something is coming. You are dismissed. Hitsugaya-taichou, please stay back."
The cries of Menos filled the smoky air. Apartments were burning, people were running in any and every direction, trying to flee the fires, blind to the even bigger threat that loomed above them. Children were crying as they were separated from their parents or were crushed underneath collapsed buildings. Old people, too weak to run, were left behind and trampled on.
At every corner of Karakura town, there was a Shinigami, the lower-ranked ones fending off the weakest Hollows and the mostly seated Shinigami were taking on the Menos, most with no success.
In Urahara's shop, the blond man sat at the table, thoughtfully sipping a cup of tea. At first glance, he seemed oblivious to the chaos outside but as Yoruichi slammed the living room's door open and emerged from a darkened hallway, he looked out the window, propping his chin in one hand.
"Aren't you going to do something?" She said, coming over to sit opposite him and casually pouring herself a cup of steaming green tea.
"It's not my battle to fight." Urahara replied.
"So what? You're just being lazy."
"I didn't come here to protect the town, Yoruichi. I came here to protect us." He peered inside his teacup, swishing the contents around. "Did you know that green tea one of the best teas for your health? And it's surprisingly cheap,"
Yoruichi narrowed her golden eyes at him. "Don't change the subject Kisuke. What are you protecting us from? Soul Society? They won't bother us if we don't bother them."
"And taking out the Menos won't be 'bothering' them?"
"For god's sake, Kisuke! Why are you being so difficult?!" She paused as something could be heard crashing into the back part of the shop.
Urahara poured himself another cup of tea, this time adding a sprinkle of sugar. "We should not interfere until we know what's actually happening. Sugar?"
A/N: Uhm... yeah. I dunno, does it seem like it's lacking something? I promise it'll get more interesting as it goes on. ^_^ Reviews make me happy~